Violence in sports clubs - the shocking research

Shocking research results showed that 82% of Australians experience 1 form of interpersonal violence in sport as a child.

The study was the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, involving 886 adults, and asked whether they had experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence, as well as neglect, from either coaches, peers or parents during childhood.

• 82% of the adults who were sampled, reported experiencing at least one form of interpersonal violence when participating in community sport as a child.
• 67% had experienced psychological violence or neglect.
• 66% reported physical violence.
• 38% reported sexual violence.

These statistics would be alarming in a school or workplace yet there’s a sense of ‘well, that’s just the way it is in community sport’ or a belief that abuse and violence leads to resilient humans with no mention of the trauma attached to these experiences. What can sports do to decrease this alarming statistic?

If you believe you have experienced violence during your childhood participation in sport, you can lodge a complaint through Sport Integrity Australia's online portal.

> Club Respect helps sports clubs build and maintain a deep culture of respect.

> Club Respect is a national harm-prevention initiative by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee.